Israel’s military announced Friday that it killed three Hamas members, including a senior commander, as its West Bank offensive entered its third day. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported killing Wissam Khazem, described as the Hamas leader in Jenin, and two others attempting to flee, during an exchange of gunfire.
The two others were identified as Maysara Masharqa and Arafat Amer. The military stated that both men were members of Hamas and had participated in shooting attacks against Israeli communities under Khazem’s command.
Hamas’ Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, confirmed the deaths of all three men, acknowledging Khazem as one of its leaders in Jenin. The Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades said Masharqa was one of its top commanders in the area.
The Palestinian ministry of health reported that 19 Palestinians have been killed so far in the Israeli operation, which has spanned cities including Jenin, Tubas, and Tulkarem. Of these, 11 were militants, according to a CNN tally, with five killed Thursday during a gunfight near a mosque in Tulkarem. The IDF also confirmed the death of Muhhamad Jabber, leader of a local Islamic Jihad faction, during the operation.
Friday’s clashes followed one of Israel’s largest assaults on the West Bank in years. Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz called for an intensified military operation to target what he described as “Islamic-Iranian terrorist infrastructure” in the West Bank. He warned of Iran’s efforts to establish an “eastern front” against Israel, collaborating with Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The IDF’s renewed offensive has drawn international criticism, including from UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who called the situation “deeply concerning.” Clashes in the West Bank have intensified since Israel launched its war in Gaza in response to the October 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel.
Since October 7, the Palestinian Ministry of Health reported that 652 Palestinians, including 150 children, have been killed in the West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem, with over 5,400 others injured. Jewish settlements in the West Bank have also continued to expand since Israel’s occupation of the territory began in 1967, despite international condemnation.
